Nonclog cap for spray dispensers



March 6, 1956 1.. J. BEHR EI'AL NONCLOG CAP FOR SPRAY DISPENSERS Filed March 24, 1953 m T E V N SPONGE 24 ammo 29 o m E N m n United States Pa-tentO 2,737,416 NONCLOG CAP FOR SPRAY DISPENSERS Leo J. Behr, Bridgeport, and Nicholas S. Hodska,

- Stratford, Conn, r

Application March 24, 1953, Serial N 344,378

7 Claims. c1. 299--95)' This invention relates to spray'dispensers for various liquid materials, and more particularly to a nonclog cap for such spray dispensers to prevent the discharge orifice of the spray nozzle from becoming filled up or clogged, so that it is always open for instant'usewhen desired.

It is common for the orifice ofthe'spray nozzle of and harden when exposed to the air and thus will quickly close or clog the spray orifice, which is usually a relatively small or restricted opening to secure the spray effect.

I This device provides means for preventing this material from drying or hardening in the restricted spray orifice, and therefore thus keeps this orifice clear and ready forimmediate use.

Referring first to the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spray can or dispenser is shown at 10 comprising a can or container for liquid. spray material, and it is closed at the top by any suitable type of closure 11 secured to the top by any suitable means, as the folded over flange construction 12 and carries the spray'nozzle 13 which also may be of any suitable type, a common form comprising a discharge tube 14 communicating with such devices to become clogged'andthedevice rendered useless by the liquid material to be sprayed through. the nozzle drying and hardening in the orifice, thus closing or clogging this orifice and preventing-use-of the device until the orifice is cleared by some means. It is common for directions to be printed on the container directing that such orifices be cleared by a wire or .a needle.

It is therefore an object of thenp'resent invention to prevent this clogging of the spray'discharge orifice and keep it in a clean operative condition, both: to -keep the device operative at all times and also to prevent damage to the orifice by such operation asthe user inserting a wire, needle or pin into the orifice. I i

It is a further object to provide a 'closure or capltor the spray nozzles of such device's in which is some means for maintaining the orifice in a moist or nondrying condition to prevent hardening or drying of the spray material in the nozzle and thus prevent clogging of the nozzle, and keeping it free and clear at all times-for instant operation when desired. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in view, we have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing: v

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a can container and discharge nozzle for a spray liquid and partial section of the upper part of the can and the closure cap involving our invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a transverse section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a somewhat modified arrangement of the device;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing another modified arrangement, and 1 Fig. 5 is a t ranverse section substantially on line 5+5 of Fig. 4. I p

As above suggested, a great deal of trouble or difficulty is encountered in the operation of s n-called spray dispensers for such materials as paint, shellac, varnish, pigments and the like, as well as other and different materials, by their drying and hardening in or on the opening of the discharge or spray nozzle of this dispenser. This of course renders the device inoperative until this'opening or orifice is properly cleared. This naturally is annoying, as ordinarily proper implements are not available for proper clearing of the opening, and if thisclearing is not carefully and skillfully done the device may beinjured by either enlarging the orifice or deforming it.

the interior of the container for conducting the liquid to the discharge nozzle and the nozzle member itself 13 may be made of plastic material slipped over the end of the tube 14 and provided with a discharge or spray orifice either in the top 15, or, in the form shown, in the side nozzle 16. In this type of device pressure is provided on the material in the container and the spray nozzle is operated by either pressing inwardly or laterally with thumb or finger on the nozzle 13, which through mechanism (not shown) will provide communication from the interior of the container to the discharge tube 14, and permit the liquid material in the container to be discharged through the orifice in the nozzle 16 in a fine spray for application'to any surface desired.

Our improved device for maintaining the discharge orifice ,in a clear unclogged condition comprises a closure cap -17'with a side wall 18 having in its lower end, an internal thread 19 whereby the cap may be threaded onto an externalthread 20 on the outer side of the overlapped flange .12. Depending from the top 21 of the cap is an interior tubular wall 22 open at its lower end so that asthis cap is applied to the container this wall will pass down over the spray nozzle 13 and enclose it, the lower end'23 of this wall being adapted to press onto a rubber or similar washer or gasket 24 carried in an annular depression in the top 11 of the container and form a liquidtight seal. In the upper part of the space enclosed by the wall 22 is some means for retaining a proper liquid to prevent drying of the material of the container in the orifice of the nozzle 16. This is some fibrous liquid absorbent material, preferably a sponge, either natural or artifical, indicated at 25, and it will absorb and retain a considerable amount of the liquid which will prevent hardening or drying of the liquid of the container in the nozzle orifice. Thus, for example, if the container is for paint and similar material, this sponge or fibrous material would be saturated with a thinner for the paint, such as turpentine or linseed oil, benzene, naphtha, Solvent and the like, and these are mentioned merely by way of example, as it will be understood the liquid used in this absorbent material would depend on the type of material used in the spray dispenser. We are not limited to the use of a sponge for retaining this material and applying it to the orifice of the nozzle, as any suitable absorbent material may be used, such, for example, as felt, cotton, wool, or any similar material. This material absorbs and retains the liquid, and by capillary action either feeds it directly to the orifice of the nozzle if it is in contact therewith, or feeds it to the surface of the nozzle which carries it to the orifice by capillary action along this surface if the absorbent material does not actually contact the surface of the orifice. It would also keep the atmosphere in the space surrounding the nozzle saturated with the vapor of this material so the material in the nozzle opening would not dry or harden. Suitable lugs 26 may be provided on the inner side of the walls 22 to retain this absorbent material in the cap, and resilient means may be provided to tend to press the absorbent material against the nozzle and if desired more or less compress this absorbent material to force the liquid therein to the surface of this material and to the surface of the nozzle. A thin sheet or disc 27a of metal, hard rubber and the like may be placed between the spring and the fibrous material to form a backing. The spring may or may not be attached to the top of the cap and the disc. This resilient means, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a spring 27, but other resilient means may be used, as for example that shown at 28 in Fig. 3, comprising a felt or similar material, which can also act as an absorbent material and retain more of the liquid. This cap can be made of any suitable material, such, for example, as metal, glass or the like, but it is preferably of a transparent plastic so that the absorbent material can be easily observed, and also so that when supplying it with the liquid the cap can be inverted and the inner compartment filled with this liquid up to the marks 22a on the inner surface of the wall 22.

The device of Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that of Fig. 1, except that instead of having an internal thread at the lower end of the outer wall, 18, an internal thread 29 is provided at the lower end of the inner wall 22 threaded onto a similar thread 30 on the central portion 31 of the closure 11. In this case a similar washer 24 could be used as that shown in Fig. l, but in this particular instance a Washer 32 is seated on the top rim of the flange 12 and extends between the outer wall 18 and the inner wall 22, and it is clamped against the top of the flange 12 by a shoulder 33 on the inner side of the outer wall 18. fibrous absorbent material 25 engaging the spray nozzle 13, except in this case it is shown as extending further down around the sides of the nozzle 13 by providing it with a recess 25 in its lower end to receive the nozzle. Thus the sponge or absorbent material is carried down over the spray discharge orifice in the nozzle tip 26, and therefore the material is in direct contact with this orifice. The cap may be of transparent plastic or other suitable material.

' clearing of the spray opening is necessary, doing away Within the wall 22 is the sponge or similar In the form of the device shown in Fig. 4, the cap 34 I l is of somewhat dilIerent shape, it being more or less semispherical or dome-shaped, with a circular flange 35 at its lower end internally threaded as shown at 36 for threading onto the externally threaded portion of the flange 12. It may be sealed by a sealing washer 37 similar to the washer 32 of Fig. 3 resting on top of this flange and clamped against it by the internal shoulder 38 on the cap. In this form of the device the internal wail 22 or" the first two caps is omitted and the sponge or similar fibrous absorbent material 39 fills substantially the whole interior of the cap. It may be somewhat bell shaped, or that is, provided with a recess 40 in its lower portion of a size to receive the nozzle 13 and enclose this nozzle similar to the arrangement of Fig. 3 and therefore to bring this absorbent material and the liquid held thereby directly to the discharge orifice or the surface of the nipple 16. the same as in Fig. 3. This cap can also be made of transparent material or other material the same as the first forms.

It is preferred to use the screw connection for all forms, but in each case the cap could be telescoped on the flange 12 with a tight fit, and omitting the screw threads.

It will be understood from the above the device supplies a suitable liquid at all times to the discharge opening of the spray nozzle and this prevents the material from a previous spraying operation from drying or hardening in or otherwise clogging this opening, so it is free and clear at all times, and as soon as the cap is removed from the container the spray may be used immediately. The device therefore is always in condition for instant use, no

with the necessity of finding some implement for such an operation, and preventing injury to the opening, and as the opening is free and clear the spray device always operates properly and at greatest eificiency.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, we claim:

1. In a spray dispenser including a container forming means for holding liquid spray material under pressure and a nozzle connected therewith provided with an orifice forming ameans for discharge of the material by said pressure in the form of a spray, a closure cap for the nozzle, means detachably connecting the cap to the container inposition to enclose the nozzle, and absorbent means in the cap adjacent the orifice containing a liquid capable of preventing hardening of the spray material in the orifice to clog this orifice.

2. In a spray dispenser including a container forming means for holdingliquid spray material under pressure and a nozzle connected therewith provided with an orifice forming a means for discharge of the material by said pressure in the form of a spray, an enclosing means for the nozzle secured to the container, and a liquid absorbent means in the enclosing means adjacent the nozzle to supply a liquid to the. orifice and prevent hardening of the spray material in the orifice. to clog it.

3. In a liquid dispenser'including a container forming means for holding liquid spray material under pressure anda spray nozzle connected therewith provided with a restricted discharge opening forming a means for dispensing the liquid .from the container by said pressure in the form of a spray, means secured to the container C0111- prising a compartment enclosing the nozzle, a liquid absorbent means in the compartment adjacent the nozzle opening to supply a liquid-to said opening and prevent hardening of the spray material in the opening to clog it, and a liquid tight seal for the compartment. 4. In a liquid dispenser including a container forming means for holding liquid spray material under pressure and a spray nozzle connected therewith provided with a restricted discharge opening forming a means for dispensing the liquid from the container by said pressure in the form of a spray, a closure cap provided with a compartment enclosing the nozzle, a fibrous liquid absorbent material in the compartment adjacent the nozzle opening to supply a liquid to said opening and prevent hardening of the spray material in the opening to clog it, means securing the cap to the container, and a liquid tight seal for the compartment to-maintain the absorbent material in a moist condition.

5. In a liquid dispenser including a container forming means for holding liquid spray material under pressure and a spray nozzle connected therewith provided with a restricted discharge opening forming a means for dispensing the liquid from the container by said pressure in the form of a spray, a closure cap for the nozzle comprising a compartment to receive the nozzle, a sponge-like member in the compartment to receive and retain a liquid, said member being provided with a recess to receive and enclose at least a part of the nozzle to supply said liquid to the discharge opening to prevent hardening of the spray material in said opening to clog it, and means to secure the cap to thecontainer.

6. In a liquid dispenser including a container forming means for holding liquid spray material under pressure and a spray nozzle connected therewith provided with a restricted discharge opening forming a means for dispensing the liquid from the container by said pressure in the form of a spray, a closure cap provided with a compartment enclosing the nozzle, a fibrous liquid absorbent material in the compartment adjacent the nozzle opening to supply a liquid to said opening and prevent hardening of the spray material in the opening to clog it, a resilient means in the compartment between the absorbent means and the cap tending to press the absorbent material against the nozzle, and means for securing the cap to the container.

7. In a liquid dispenser ircluding a container forming means for holding liquid spray material under pressure and a a spray nozzle connected therewith provided with a restricted discharge opening forming a means for dispensing the liquid from the container by said pressure in the form of a spray, a closure cap for the nozzle comprising an outer enclosing wall provided with a closed outer end wall and an inner Wall depending from the closed wall providing a compartment open at its inner end to receive the nozzle, a fibrous liquid absorbent means in the compartment adjacent the nozzle discharge opening to supply liquid to this opening and prevent hardening of the spray material in the opening to clog it, means for securing the 6 cap to the container, and a liquid seal for said compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

